Black-necked Stilt

Black-necked Stilt

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1. Cool Facts
2. Description
3. Similar Species
4. Sound
5. Range
6. Habitat
7. Behavior
8. Conservation Status
9. Other Names

A striking black-and-white bird with very long, thin red legs, the Black-necked Stilt is found along the edges of shallow water in open country.

Cool Facts

• Five species of rather similar-looking stilts are recognized in the genus Himantopus. They have the second-longest legs in proportion to their bodies of any bird, exceeded only by flamingos.
• The Hawaiian subspecies of Black-necked Stilt has the black of its neck reaching much farther forward than the mainland forms. Habitat loss and hunting led to the decline in its numbers. It uses primarily the few freshwater wetlands found on the Hawaiian Islands.

Description

• Size: 35-39 cm (14-15 in)
• Wingspan: 71 cm (28 in)
• Weight: 136-220 g (4.8-7.77 ounces)

• Large shorebird.
• Black face, hind neck, and back.
• White throat and underparts.
• Very long, thin red legs.
• Long, thin, straight black bill.

• Wings all black.
• Rectangular white spot above eye.
• White forehead.
• White wedge up back visible in flight.
• Eyes red.

Sex Differences

Sexes similar, but female with brown tinge to back and slightly shorter legs.

Immature

Similar to adult, but with scalloped pattern on back and a white trailing edge to wing.

Similar Species

• American Avocet has reddish or gray head, long gray legs, white in the wings, and an upturned bill.

Sound

A sharp yipping. Given continuously when disturbed.

Range

Range Map

© 2004 Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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Summer Range

Breeds in scattered localities across western and southern United States southward through Caribbean and Central America to South America. Also in Hawaii.

Winter Range

Winters from southern United States southward.

Habitat

Shallow fresh and saltwater wetlands, including salt ponds, rice fields, shallow lagoons, and mangrove swamps.

Behavior

Foraging

Feeds in shallow water, while wading or swimming. Locates food by sight and snaps it up, sometimes sticking head completely underwater, or swipes the head and bill through water.

Conservation Status

Populations increasing in United States. Vulnerable to habitat alteration. Hawaiian subspecies was reduced to about 200 birds in 1940s, but now up to about 1,500, but still listed as federal Endangered Species.

Other Names

Échasse d'Amérique (French)
Candelero Americano, Cachiporra,Cigüeñuela, Cuellinegra,Monjita (Spanish)

Sources used to construct this page:

Robinson, J. A., J. M. Reed, J. P. Skorupa, and L. W. Oring. 1999. Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus). In The Birds of North America, No. 449 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.